POP star JoJo has confessed she battled alcohol abuse in her late teens but overcome her addiction after the death of her father.
The Leave (Get Out) singer found fame at the age of 13 and for years enjoyed a string of hit albums and film appearances.
But as she watched her father struggle with opioid addiction, and was forced into a legal battle over a record contract dispute, she admits she spiralled and began drinking “to the point of blackouts” by the age of 18.
“I was feeling overwhelmed and found myself wanting to get out of my mind because I was so scared and so sad,” she said.
“At the end of the day I am a product of a family with substance-abuse issues.”
Speaking to People magazine, the singer acknowledged that she knew she had to get help after she woke up and had no idea how to get home.
“Because there is a history of mental health issues in my family, I didn’t feel any shame seeking help, she added.
“Those of us who have a predisposition toward depression or a chemical imbalance — sometimes we just need a little help.”
She now uses yoga and exercise to help her manage her mental health ,as well as therapy, medication and journaling.
JoJo has previously claimed that she was put on an extreme 500 calorie-a-day diet by her former record label, alleging that Blackground execs had her using appetite suppressing injections when she was just 18 years old in order to help her look “healthy”.
Speaking candidly about the experience in an interview with UpRoxx, she explained: “When I was 18 I remember being sat down in the Blackground office and the president of the label being like, ‘We just want you to look as healthy as possible.’
The Baby It’s You singer continued: “And I was like, ‘I’m actually the picture of health. I look like a healthy girl who eats and is active. I don’t think this is about my health. I think that you want me to be really skinny.’
“He’s like, ‘No, I wouldn’t say that.'”
After her first two albums, 2004’s Jojo and 2006’s The High Road, the singer was desperate to release new records under the restrictive contract.
JoJo ended up taking legal action against the record label in a bid to be released from her contract.
After a lengthy legal battle, the label settled in 2009.
JoJo went on to re-record her first two albums and singles and has now launched her own record label Clover through a partnership with Warner Records.
The singer is set to drop her next album, Good to Know, this Friday.
